Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty left Saturday's game against in the first period with a lower-body injury, but after the game promised he would still compete in the Olympics.

"I'm OK. I'm going to Sochi," the U.S. Olympian told reporters.

Pacioretty said he was held out as a precaution.

"I went in pretty hard and I got the wind knocked out of me," he said. "I think the team wanted to play it safe and I think it was a good decision."

Midway through Saturday's first period, Carolina Hurricanes defenceman Brett Bellemore rode Pacioretty into a goal post. The 25-year-old lay on the ice for minutes before eventually leaving the game with help from a trainer.

If Pacrioretty is ultimately deemed unfit to travel to Russia for the Olympics, it's widely believed either New York Islanders right winger Kyle Okposo, Ottawa Senators right winger Bobby Ryan, or Chicago Blackhawks left winger Brandon Saad will be tapped to represent the U.S.

Pacioretty, a New Canaan, Conn., product, has recorded 37 points in 49 games this season.

Bergenheim turns down Finland spot

Sean Bergenheim has officially said thanks, but no thanks, to Team Finland.

The Florida Panthers forward has declined an offer to suit up for his country at the Sochi Olympics, the Miami Herald reported Saturday. Bergenheim was recently approached by the Finnish brain trust, asking if he would like to replace an injured countryman, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Valtteri Filppula.

"For any athlete, having to say no to the Olympics is disappointing," Bergenheim, 30, told the Herald. "I had to make a decision with my best interests in mind."

The Helsinki native is healthy enough to play for the Panthers right now. He has 19 points in 43 games this season.

However, last year was a complete write-off due to injury issues. This had Bergenheim second-guessing the whole Olympic thing.

"I really feel I need the break. I'm happy with how far I have come, but I could take a real step forward after the break," he said.

Special first for Jon Merrill

Jon Merrill made history Friday night, becoming the first player in NHL history to score his first goal in extra time.

Merrill, a 22-year-old defenceman for the New Jersey Devils, tallied the 2-1 overtime winner against the Edmonton Oilers. It was his 31st game and fifth point as an NHLer.

"Like I always say, I'm just trying to do whatever it takes to get some wins," Merrill told the New Jersey Star-Ledger after the game, downplaying the accomplishment. "I don't rely on my shot or think of myself as strictly an offensive defenceman, but I can add some of that every now and then."

The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder spent three years at the University of Michigan before joining the Devils. He was selected in the second round of the 2010 NHL draft.

BRIEFLY

Montreal Canadiens defenceman Alexei Emelin has been fined $5,000 for butt-ending Vancouver Canucks forward Pascal Pelletier. The incident occurred in Thursday night's game and did not result in a penalty ... Phoenix Coyotes forward Martin Hanzal is day-to-day with an illness. Hanzal sat out Friday night's game versus the Chicago Blackhawks ... The Los Angeles Kings placed forward Colin Fraser on waivers Saturday ... Nashville Predators forward Colton Sissons has been recalled from the team's AHL affiliate in Milwaukee. Sissons has an assist in three games for the Predators this season ... Columbus Blue Jackets defencemen Cody Goloubef and Tim Erixon have been demoted to the team's AHL affiliate in Springfield ... St. Louis Blues defenceman Jordan Leopold sustained a leg injury Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets. Blues coach Ken Hitchcock told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Leopold is "not OK," but could not yet provide details about the injury's severity.